Threshold closure



Aug.- l2, 1930. M. c. RoseNaLm-r 1,772,594

THRISHOLD GLOSURI V rund Jun 9. 1928 nl 7 f 1 I I ein Patented Align.A 12,y Y ,i Y'

f Tum-:snmp cLosURE Appiijcan@fined Julie s; ieee. vslriaifmfzs-Lisro.

This invention1 relates to'thresliold closures, and more particularly vto. pivoted "devices attachedto doors forgclosing fthfeVop'eningg; existi ing between 'the lower edge o-tliedoorandf ,Amalia:they s y t to provide a thresholdclosure'pivotally associated'with a doorfwithnieans protecting and;- covering the joint ybetweeny the y'closure and V such door; to provide .aifthresholdclosure arranged for movable associationfwith a door;

with vmeans engageableby the` normal door i .provide a, thresholdclosureof neat andiornastop for effecting movement of the: closure, d n

the warpingor twisting action that otherwise `mightf'be exerted on the strip. V'lhispreferred fornialso possesses other features and advan- `said means simultaneously `functioning las an ly the construction fof threshold closuresgto mental appearance with efficient functioning at an economical manufacturing cost; toprovide improved meansv `for'pivotally associatingl thresholdc1osures with `doors ,to provide a spring' elevated"thresholdfelosure that will d n A fingiol this invention aixed to the door,` but -V not warp or twistunder stresses; y,to provide lment without aliectinglthe'main partsthereof i as theymay wearl underpijolonged'usefto able parts siiehpthat a `c` lo`sure as'provided maybe attached to a'doorl and rendered oper- "able regardless of the location-'of thejhinges ofthe door; to provide ath'reshold closure which is adjustable to accord-with variations in the size of doors to which nit may be atf;

rvpartially in section of a door and attached threshold closure, illustrating the preferredV ,formi of'hinge connection between the parts.

tachedgto lprovide a thresholdelesure 'for pivotal association with' a door with ineansfor raising and lowering the closure .on its pivet,

the means each being operablexon jsfubst'anfl tially the same point on ,theclosure lso that j invention, wh

twisting and warping stressesV are minimized;

and many other objectsand advantages as will be more apparent as thedescriptionpro- 'ceedsi '7; 9" f' In carrying out the invent'inina preferred form, a supporting housing is .provided of substantially inverted U 'shape for attachment ytothe door,rto onelegiof which 'as closure strip is pivot-ally attached,in'siichfinannerthat the Vstrip is caused to abutthe otherfleg'of thes'upantirattler for the door; to improve gener-al-A .j is provided/lion engaged clip. 1f 5 `Fig-:(7 represents a if section through. the structurey shown in lFig. v wyandfrt` I f port as the stripis swung on its pivotin order to effect aisubstantially flightl joint at thei'upy' 'perportion of the closure strip while the loweredge abuts tliefloor or threshold, tlieol'o`'V sure l strip having toward one endfa laterally extending clip or stoparranged to engage the" i normal door stop, fastened removably tothe strip', the connecting means also serving` to` connect a spring element to the strip frictionally engaging the leg ofthe'support to which the strip; is pivoted, the spring arrangedl to Ji*elevatetlie strip on its pivot,l ,and1 being difectly engaged and ,Compressed byfStreSS 911. thepla'teralelip`'or stop, with minimization of vIn V`the accompanying 'drawings,`

"part noi this description:

,"QFig lrepresents 'avperspectiveof va door and" doorway with a thresholdk closure'accordshown elevatedlposition as it normally is `fthe position kof the closure in ,itslopen positioi'iiy Fig. ifrepresents a fragmentary elevation,

t 5 represents an elevation of a modified form orthreshold closureaccordingjto this Y 4 y erein adjustment as to length Fig, 6 represents a `fragmentary elevation of the end of the thresholdv closure, showing in ldotted lines thedisposition of the spring deviceand the laterally extending door stop fragmentaryhorizontal v l 1;Fig5 8 represents avertical sectionthrough l d y j represents `a fragmentary end elevaprovide a thresholdlclosurewith interchangeftiQhfdf" g door a' threshold,fclosure4 y(in 'closed position relative thedOOland the HQY- `i` Fig. represents a fragmentary end'eleva-LBO the door, as Well as to preclude frictional en-V the modified form of closure shown in Fig.'5. The invention is applicable in general to a door A, swinging in a doorway having a stop B, and is to correct or close the gap or threshold opening C usually existing between the lower edge of the door, and the floor or threshold D. It is welllmown, of course, that such threshold openings permit the admission of drafts of cold air, dust, dirt and sounds. While effecting a closure for the opening in thev closed position of the door, it is of importance that the closing device be susceptible to elevation out of the path below the lower edge of the door, in order to avoid rugs, and the like, which are usu-` ally located within the radius vof swing of gagement between the closure and the floor such as might militate against the free use of the door.

vIt has been found in earlier inventions lseeking in part the ideals achieved herein,

that the attachment of'a pivoted strip to a door, when the strip is made of stamped metal, frequently effects a gap between the upper edge ofthe strip and the door which isundesirable.

" In order to guard against such gap or closure may be easily and quickly positioned,

the closure is provided with an upper supporting housing or water table 10, comprising an inverted trough arranged'to extend across thewidth ofthe door, substantially and having an inner longer leg 11 arranged to abut the door A, a horizontally projected sectionV 12, and an outer short leg 13, substantially parallel with the inner leg but having a space 14 between the legs due to the width of section 12.` This trough is preferably stamped or punched from a single sheet of material. such as sheet metal, although obviously it maybe modified in many ways.

The closure element comprises an elongated strip 1 5, preferably having a curved surface vertically between the upper and lower.

limits of the strip, to impart an ornamental appearance and, of more importance to stiffen and reinforce the strip throughout its length. The lower end of the strip is struck out as at 16 to form one half of a cushion engagingslot or pocket 17 the other half of which may be `formed of a supplemental strip 1f8, oppositely struck out, as at 20, and

welded, or otherwise secured `to the outer mainl strip15. Removably received in the Socket orpocket 17, is the upper element 2l, of the cushion 22, preferably formed of rubbenbut clearly susceptible to many` forms and materials, or combinations thereof.` The cushion and the cooperating pocket are so that the cushion may be slid endwise into the pocket, from the side edge of thestrip, and clearly, as it wears with use, maybe removed and replaced in the same manner without disturbing the assembly on the door A. In order to pivotally associate the strip or closure element 15 with the water,` table or supporting housing, ordinary hinge members may be fastened to both parts (not shown), asiwill be obvious. It is preferred, however, inthe interests of economy, to provide at desired points in the strip 15, horizontal slots 23. Tothe inner leg 11 of the trou h or water table flanged plates 24 may be a ed, carrying on their front faces tongues 25 arranged forregistration with the slots 23, respectively, and. lugs or ears26 extending per- ',pendicularly from the` face of the plate 24 substantially in theplane of, or just below the tongue 25,` (all `as shown in Fig. 4). In this, connection it will be seen that both the lugs and the tongues may be struck from the metal of the inner leg 11 of the trough or supporting housing and obviate the separate plate disclosed.

It will be observed that byproviding ap? Y propriate openings inthe parts 11 and 13 of the supporting housing, thehousing may be rigidly ailixed to the door A, and that in this position the closure element may be swung about an axis located in the space 14 between thelegs of thehousing on'itspivots. In such oscillation of the closure element, inthe position shown in Fig. 4, there-is substantial engagement between the upper portion of strip 15 and the lower edge of the front or outer leg 13 of the supportralthough a'tight fit between the parts in this position is not essential other than to preserve-the unity of appearance. When swung to the position shown in Fig; 2, forinstanee and however, it will be clear that the lugs 26 are in the path lofthe inner surface ofthe strip, just below its axis, so as to force the upper edge of the strip 15 into abutting position relative the inner surface'of the outerleg `13, thus maintaining a tight'engagementat the to. when the door is closed andthe closure a tting theoor or threshold.

In order to operate the closure a laterally extendingclip is provided so ositioned `as to -abut the normal door lstop but of such thinness as to interfere inno way with the properclosing of the door. It will be linderstood that according to the location `of the vhinges on door A, whether on the right or left hand so must the laterally extending clip be extended. To provide for the alternative positioning'of the clipor stop,the closure ele-` ment 15 is provided toward each end with a pair of horizontallyV aligned muiianly i spacedepenings 27. cBy connecting bolts and vattach and anchor the innerend of a clip or stoplug 30, whichinaybe formed of resilient material and haveoneend project beyond the edgeofthe stripinposition to abutthe door stop vB. If vsuch resilient l materialis used andthe clip is initially ina plane, it lwill be observed that the clip will be subjected to bendingstress'es when the door'isclosed, ow-

orclip, such. that the` stressl` imparted toV theV ing'tothe distance-that the closure strip is' spaced from the plane ofthe doorf'face, as shown in Fig. 2. Thisformof clip'is quite feasible andhasbeen used with success, as it serves the useful Vsupplemental .purpose of maintaining the lower edgeof thedoor A under tension and prevents rattles fand vibrations under the influencefof aircurrents and It is preferred however, to 4provvide a steppedfclip'as shown in Fig. 7, wherein theY inner end' 30 is attached to the 'concave surface of the strip 15, isbvent perpendicularly as at 311,1and terminates in alugor stop 32, parallel with but spaced frorntheinner endf30. The

arrangementis preferably such that -whenthe closure is inthefclosed position asfshow'nin Fig. 2, the lug end orstop 32 is injuxtaposition to the'facey of the' doorA, inthe plane of the "inner leg of thehousing. This feature facilitates the use'of stampedi'metal. Y"

Inorder to elevate theclosureon` its axisy or pivot whenever the door is opened a vnovel spring arrangementis'provided. v.x'lhe-spring element 33 has one end bent to'conform with the inner surface of the 'strip orvclosure 15,

substantially, as shownin Figs. 3 and, and

is aperture'd to be connected by bolts 28 either :between the lstop-lug andthe strip 15,-or the nuts associated withfbolts 28 andthe stop lug. At any rate uit is preferredzxthatthe point-ofV attachment ofthe spring 33 be yin registry with the point of attachmentofthe stop lug stripor closure by either the spring-or the clip is. directly opposed4 by ythe other, respectively, and. :the twisting andE warping action that arises from applying'theltwo stresses at'lon gitudinally spaced pointsis avoided.."l`he spring 33 hasa resilient leg 34 arranged to beaufrictionally against theinner leg l1 'of the supporting housing.,` If .desired anti-friction vmaterial Ymay, beinterlposed between the ,legs 33 and i711,vl asby means ofa graphited y tape. not shown) or otherfdevice." It will be lapparent that the spring device 33 may be inserted laterally into. position `between kthe parts, and thus may be reinoved fand replaced without 'disassembly' ;of the entirel structure.

VObviously the sameis true of the clip or stop lug30. f

vItis contemplatedthatjthe closures may be provided in varying lengths toaccord with vthe standardy widthslof doors and that by means of a'hackV 'saw or other? device the Vundesired extra length ofthe closure may be renovedto enable a'good itbetween thedoor thecenter as an incidentof the a reduced inner leg 40 of aihousing shell41 slots-44. The closure shell :may continue down ture.

.partingf from the spirit f'alsodeemed obvious.'r

stops ofthe doorway. This is an economical and practicable manner -of attachment, well v within the range of skill of the average 'house-v holder. "In order'to obviate this feature in y i instanceswhere it may be undesirablepit is contemplated that the adjustable feature disclosed in Figs. v5 and 8 may be utilized.`

woy

As shown in Fig. 5,.the closure is of the j saine'general and special construction as that already disclosed, except that toward theends of the strip and housing ornamental irregular lines, that' is, preferably curved lines, 'as 35 are struck up or otherwise formed inthe external surfaces of the parts. fThesehave no mechanical function but serve solely-to impart an ornamental appearance' whichba1- ances similar` configurations formed toward adjustability to be-described. Y i 7' Theisupporting housing is substantially identicalwith that `already described, 'preferably, in theouter. adjustable portions of `the closure, as at 36, butmay have slots 37,

forrned in the horizontal portion 38 in which theclosure shelll 45 covering the facesof the strips and rigidly and adjustably connected thereto by bolts 46 connecting throughthe to form one half of the socket asin the normal constructiom or maybe iterminated' `thereabove,-,per1n1ttrngithe otherwise unrestrained cushiohingelement to show through beneath, but held iin 4operative, position by the grip of the stripelements asinth'e previous construc-y tion; lItis preferred'that" the adjustability' feature be *utilized for relatively small adjustinents, so as to allow for the variations indoor width incidental to planing the *door for proper fit. It is to be lnoted that the lateral edges of the housing shell, as at 47 yare formed so as to be complementary ofthe ad-` j jacent `ornamental lines 35 softhat the superficialaspect of the closure when attached is of ornamental design for vthe unitarystruc'- Y -The economy,siniplicityfiand eiiiciency Aof ,n

- I claimasinylinvention:

' n Afhreshoid Closure includ-ing a housing,

the ldevice are thoughtto be evi dent.`fThat Y many features Vof the invention are suscepti- -bletogmodication and change without de# ofthe ,inventionr is the housingA and comprised of a plurality of relatively adjustable elements, the housing arranged for attachment to a door, and the elements of the housing and strip respectively being adjustable to vary the effective length of the whole to accord with variations in widths of doors to be treated.

3. A threshold closure includingr a housing formed of a bent piece of material having tvmofportions in substantial parallelism spaced to Vform an opening, a closure strip extendinginto the opening, means `for pivoting the strip belowits upper edge in the housing so arranged that as the strip is moved on its pivotal means the portion above the pivot is vcaused to move toward the outer of said two portions to effect a substantially tight joint therewith.

4i A threshold closure comprising a strip of metalhaving a pocketv in its lower edge terminating-in a restricted slot, a resilient cushion removably held in the pocket and 'having portions engaged by the edges of the restricted slot, means for operatively associating the strip with a door,and meansfor pivotally `moving the strip relative the door.

5. A threshold closure including means for operatively associating the closure in pivoted relation to a door, a flexible clip extending laterally of the closure in position to abut the normal stop for the door, means connecting ,the clip to the closure toward one end thereof but inwardly spaced from the end thereof, whereby under pressure from impingement of the clip on the kdoor'stop said clip may flex in swinging the closure and impart resilient anti-rattling pressure to such door.

6: A threshold `closure including a housingumpport, said support including a backing strip for attachment to` a door, an overhanging guard strip connected to the backing strip, t-he backing strip having a tongue, a closure strip having a portion disposed between the backing strip and the guard and provided with a slot into which the tongue extends, with means forpositioning the strip relative the tongue and relative the overhanging guard.

In a threshold closure a strip of pressed metal terminating at its lower edge in a curved edge, a complemental metallic strip afl'ixed thereto and terminating in `an oppo-` sitely curved edge, the said curved edges being spaced to form a slot communicating with` a pocket delineated ,by the curved edges, a cushion strip mounted in the pocket extendin substantial alignment-with the main body of the strip, and `means for pivotally supporting the strip firstmentioned.

8. A threshold closure comprising an elongated strip, means for operatively associating the stri in pivoted relation to a door, sprin means or urging the strip to swing upwa ly on its pivot, means operable to swing the strip `downwardly on its pivot, the spring means and said last mentionedmeans operable at substantially identical points on the strip, thus precluding any appreciable warping of the strip in operation. e

9. A threshold closure comprising a sup port housing, a strip pivoted to the housing at a plurality of points, a spring energizing the strip relative thehousing towardone end thereof, a laterally projecting clip carried by the strip and mounted in such position that pressure thereon is directly opposed by the spring to prevent warping of the strip.

10. A threshold closure including a support housing having` a backing strip, a closure strip pivotally disposed relative to the backing strip, a lug or clip for'energizing the strip comprised of a portion engaging the strip and an ofset ear extending laterally of the strip, the ear of the clip so arranged as to lie substantially in the plane ofthe backing strip in the operativeposition of the strip.

11. A pivoted threshold closure arranged for association with a door including a strip having a rearface partially spaced 'from the plane of such door, a plate connected to the spaced portion of the strip and `terminating in a laterally extending lug or ear offset and spaced from said portion towardsaid door, whereby the strip ismaintained in operative position relative the door with the ear of the plate in contact with the normal stop of such door. r

V12. A threshold rclosure including a strip of metal having connecting means toward each end, a door stop engaging clip arranged to project laterally from the strip and interchangeably positionableon either end of the strip by utilizing the appropriate connecting means therefore.

13. A threshold closure including a strip of metal having an opening toward each end, means for operatively associating the strip in pivoted relation to a door, a raising spring and a depressing clip arranged for coincident association with the strip at either end thereof by connections engaging the appropriate opening.

14. A longitudinally adjustable threshold closure comprising a pair of aligned supporting housings arranged for engagement with a door with a variable space between the adjacent ends, a pair of strips aligned `and pivotallv connected to the respective supporting lhousings arranged for maintenance in vanably spaced relation, a shell housing mounted on the housings covering the gap between them, and a shell strip arranged to overlie the f with means for holding the pivoted and shell adjacent ends of the pair of pivotedV strips,

strips together in Vadjusted relation. i

15. A threshold closure including telescopii cally mounted shell and support housings, pivotally mounted closure strips carried by the housings, a shell closure strip having ornamentally curvededges overlying `the ends of the closure strips, vmeans for adjustably connecting the overlying shell lstrip totY the i pivoted strips, said strips being formed with lines complementary tothe edges of the shell for imparting a balanced design impression of a unitary structure. y

' In testimony whereof laix mysionature.

Cil

MAURVIGEC. ROSENBLTT. 

